Hops

Anodyne (relieves pain), anthelmintic, diuretic, febrifuge, hypnotic, nervine, sedative, soporific, tonic, anaphrodisiac, stomachic

 Hops are plants that grow throughout Europe and Asia. The female plant has flowers called strobiles that are used for medicinal purposes. They are harvested in early fall. Hops plants are usually tall and can grow as high as 22 feet.

Dosage:

As an infusion, drink one cup in the evening to aid sleep.

As a tincture, take 20 drops in a glass of water 3 times daily for anxiety. Take 10 drops with water up to 5 times daily for digestion.

As a tablet, take for stress or as a sleep aid.

As a capsule, take 500 mg 3 times daily before meals to help increase appetite.

A sachet may be made and placed in your pillow to aid in sleep.

Chemical Constituents: The aromatic odor of the Hop strobiles is due to a volatile oil, of which they yield about 0.3 to 1.0 per cent. It appears to consist chiefly of the  Humulene. Petroleum spirit extracts 7 to 14 per cent of a powerfully antiseptic soft resin, and ether extracts a hard resin. The petroleum spirit extract contains the two crystalline bitter principles (a) Lupamaric acid (Humulone), (b) Lupamaric acid (Lupulinic acid).

Lupulin, which consists of the glandular powder present on the seeds and surface of the scales. The drug occurs in a granular, brownish-yellow powder, with the strong odor and bitter aromatic taste characteristic of Hops.  Other constituents are the two Lupamaric acids, choline and resin.

The female flower, which resembles a globe artichoke, is the part used by brewers. The drowsy feeling after drinking beer is due to the hops content.

Hops contain a high amount of estrogen and, as a result, too much beer can lead to loss of libido in men.

General Uses

Hops will produce sleep when nothing else will. It has been used to decrease the desire for alcohol. Relieves delirium tremens.

Fresh Hops possess a bitter aromatic taste and a strong characteristic odour.

Hop juice cleanses the blood, and for calculus trouble nothing better can be found than the bitter principle of the Hop. A decoction of the root has been esteemed as of equal benefit with Sarsaparilla.

Hops has a calming effect on the nervous system. Hop tea is recommended for nervous diarrhea, neuralgia, and restlessness. Helps stimulate appetite, dispel flatulence, boils, headache, toothache, earaches, pain, nervous tension and stress, jaundice, kills worms, mucus colitis, gonorrhea, ulcers, poor circulation, blood purifier, inflamed rheumatic joints, muscles cramps, neuritis, neuralgia, shock, and relieve intestinal cramps. Combined with valerian (for antispasmodic properties) for coughs. A cold tea, taken 1 hour before meals, is particularly good for digestion. Hops also have diuretic properties and can be taken for various problems with water retention and excess uric acid. Externally, a poultice can be used for inflammations, boils, ringworms, tumors, painful swellings, and old ulcers.

 A hop pillow is a popular method of overcoming insomnia.

Young tips and leaves can be used as a green vegetable.

Precautions:

Excessive doses or prolonged use can have detrimental effects and should be avoided.Handling plant often causes dermatitis. Dislodged hairs may irritate eyes.

Hops is a mild depressant and should be avoided in depression.

As an external remedy, an infusion of Hops is much in demand in combination with chamomile flowers or poppy heads as a fomentation for swelling of a painful nature, inflammation, neuralgic and rheumatic pains, bruises, boils and gatherings. It removes pain and allays inflammation in a very short time. The drug Lupulin is an aromatic bitter and is reputed to be midly sedative, inducing sleep without causing headache.

It is occasionally administered as a hypnotic, either in pills with alcohol, or enclosed in a cachet.

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Note: This information is a summary of data from books and articles by various authors. It is not intended to replace the advice or attention of health care professionals.

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